Category: General Announcements

Initial Shock on Met Radio

Aaron was invited by the More Noise Please program on Met Radio to curate a fest-related playlist.

The show airs tonight at 8PM on metradio.ca / AM 1280 in Toronto.

The playlist:

Richard Ramirez – Spinal Mutilation (Certain Cruelty, 1995, Slaughter Productions)
The Nausea – Ascension (Requiem, 2024, Absurd Exposition)
Slime Street – Cold Rushes (Séance, 2024, Disaster Sources)
Murmur – 1 (Balcony, 2023, Buried in slag and debris.)
Fowl – 2 (Balcony, 2023, Buried in slag and debris.)

Thanks to Jen Creagh for the invite.

Initial Shock on CJLO

Taylor was invited by the Psychic Ceremony program on CJLO to speak a bit about the fest and present tracks from a selection of the artists.

The show is archived for the next 4 weeks here: http://cjlo.com/shows/psychic-ceremony/episode-24062419

The playlist:

Richard Ramirez – Severe Retraction (The Japanese / American Noise Treaty, 1995, Release Entertainment)
Heat Signature – Shedding the Human Psyche (Dehumanization In Progress, 2019, Oxen)
Parasite Nurse – Clarity (Life Is Beautiful, 2023, Oxen)
Paxillus Succubus – Acte 3 – Scène Finale – Terres De Guerre (Paxillus Succubus x Splinter Assembly, 2023, self-released)
The Nausea – Ascension (Requiem, 2024, Absurd Exposition/Buried In Slag And Debris)
Death Glaze – Rend (Collapse, 2024, Absurd Exposition)
Primitive Isolation Tactics – Hazy Nightmare Reality (Time Hole, 2024, White Centipede Noise)

Thank you to Josh Dimakakos for the invite.

Untitled Zine sponsors Initial Shock II

We’re fortunate and thankful to have sponsors of the festival, one of whom is Untitled Zine, a pro-printed publication reporting on noise, avant-garde, and contemporary sound art practices. Its editor, Chris Gibson, has been a big supporter of the festival since day one. Not only did he design all our promotional materials this year, he’ll also be performing at the After Shock matinee gig on Sunday, July 7 as part of the Rhoda & dang. collaborative set. Thank you to Chris for your generosity and support.

The newest issue of Untitled Zine is out now, featuring articles, artwork and interviews with:

• Jazzhand – Interview by Ross Henteleff
• alonewithlabor [ Kem Bond, Impact Initiative ]
• Pain Chain [ Sam Gruca ] – Interview by Kate Rissiek
• Aaron Scholz on Latitudes [ Disaster Sources, Catholic Stare ]
• Met Glas [ Kale Van Reekum ]
• Veikko Rajanen [ Mogao, The New Boyfriends ]
• Frans de Waard [ Kapotte Muziek, Vital Weekly ]
• Jeph Jerman – Interview by Barrett E. Lediard
• Jack Davidson [ Noise Not Music ]
• Elisha Morningstar [Joy de Vivre ]
• Film-Field: Punishment Park – Review by Sam Risser
• Will Kemper [ PRESSORTAPE, FBFFFBFBBBF, SIGNAL CORPS]

Support Chris and Untitled Zine by picking up copies at https://buriedinslaganddebris.bigartel.com or ordering from the following distributors:

Scream & Writhe (CA), Obsolete Records (Halifax), Skeleton Dust Records (US), Malevolent Relics (US), Satatuhatta (FI), Discreet Music (SE), Sentimental Youth (DE), Amek Collective (BG) + more.

Advanced tickets for the fest are available: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/82671/orders/new#/

Initial Shock presents THE RITA and guests at Suoni per il Popolo

Initial Shock has curated an evening of dynamic noise to present at Suoni per il Popolo this year. Hailing from British Columbia, THE RITA is one of Canada’s longest-running harsh noise acts, and one of the most respected in the global noise underground. Hyper-focused on the parallels between obsessive themes and sound sources (shark attacks, Eurocult films, contacts mics on nylons, stage makeup and ballet aesthetics, etc.), THE RITA is now joined by pantomime artist Lorelei to further emphasize these correlations. Local acts on the bill include HIGH GROVE (contemplative tape loops), JUTE (ice-cutting harsh noise), AXIOM (mnemonic industrial noise), and newcomer EYDEN ZHAO.

Advanced tickets available at suoniperilpopolo.org

Announcing Initial Shock II

Scream & Writhe and Disaster Sources are pleased to announce Initial Shock II. The second edition of the Montreal noise fest will take place Saturday, July 6th at La Sotterenea.

Full lineup: Richard Ramirez (PA) / The Nausea (BC) / Heat Signature (OH) / Slime Street (SK/OR) / Flatgrey (BC) / Skin / Parasite Nurse (NY) / Echthros (AB) / Deep Grey (MB) / Death Glaze (ON) / Murmur (ON) / Fowl / Paxillus Succubus / Come and See / Splinter Assembly

$30
2PM-11PM
La Sotterenea

The After Shock matinee will take place the following day (Sunday, July 7th) at MAI/SON.

Featuring: Thin Mountain (PA) / Molena (BC) / Erin Altomare (BC) / Green Mist (OR) / Jon Vaughn (SK)

2PM
$10 PWYC
MAI/SON

Artist bios and advanced ticketing info to follow
Poster designs by Chris Gibson
Sponsored by FACTOR, Pizza Bouquet, Untitled Zine
See you soon!

Initial Shock 2023 Wrap

Almost a week later and we’re still riding the high from Initial Shock! We’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our performers, each of whom brought their own unique and dynamic presence to the festival; to all those who attended, as your support was vital to the success of the festival; to our volunteers Owen Cole, Daniel Broomberg, and Sarah Etter whose help was essential in keeping the ship afloat and we could not have done it without any of them; and to our sponsors Cheap Thrills, Untitled Zine and Pizza Bouqeut for having our backs and providing us with treats for performers and attendees alike. Final shout-outs are owed to La Sotterenea and their staff for being great hosts, and to Lore for being the official festival photographer.

Stay tuned! Our upcoming shows are Death Kneel and Moss Harvest on August 25th, Bastard Noise on December 2nd, and mark your calendars for the next round of Initial Shock on July 6, 2024!

Thank you one and all,
Aaron and Taylor

Raffle Prizes from Initial Shock sponsors

Tomorrow is the big day! We will be holding a raffle draw in the evening, with tickets available for purchase throughout the day. For $5 per ticket, you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of the following prize packs, each valued at $75.

Prize 1:

$50 Cheap Thrills gift certificate
Keiji Haino – Abandon All Words… 2CD (Alien8 Recordings, 2001)

Prize 2:

$50 Scream & Writhe gift certificate
Keiji Haino – Abandon All Words… 2CD (Alien8 Recordings, 2001)

Prizes 3, 4, 5:

Untitled Zine, issues 3-6
Masonna – Frequency L.S.D. CD (Alien8 Recordings, 1998)

Prize 6:
Artbreakhotel – Karas LP (Buried In Slag And Debris, 2022)
Merzbow – Aqua Necromancer (Expanded) 2LP – limited white vinyl edition (Absurd Exposition, 2022)

Thanks to Cheap Thrills for donating the gift certificate and classic Alien8 CDs, to Untitled Zine for donating copies of their publication and the Artbreakhotel LP, and thanks to Scream & Writhe for donating the gift certificate and Merzbow 2LP.

See you all tomorrow! The noise starts at 2:30PM sharp!